IYPT 2019 Elements 070: Ytterbium: Accurate atomic clocks and brain studies

Element 70 in our International Year of the Periodic Table series is ytterbium. Ytterbium is found in the most accurate atomic clocks and is also used in studies of the brain.

We’ve previously encountered atomic clocks when discussing the uses of rubidium and caesium. Ytterbium is used in the latest generation of atomic clocks which are even more accurate than those that use rubidium and caesium. Ytterbium atomic clocks, developed in recent years, are accurate to one second in the age of the universe and could have a variety of applications.

Remember, you can keep track of all of the previous entries in this series on the site here, or on the Royal Society of Chemistry’s dedicated page.

You can download all of the element graphics so far here.